Ruddington’s village butcher is going out on a ‘high’ this month – following a few years which have not always been easy for our cheery Church Street retailer. Please see the important update below.*
After shop manager Shane Ginty took over the running of the business from original owner Stewart White in 2015, like many independent retailers he faced some very tough trading conditions. The gradual rise in villagers choosing to shop at the big supermarkets and online – coupled with some people cutting down on meat or giving it up altogether – looked as if it would spell the end for Ruddington’s last butchers’ shop in July 2018. But a flood of support when RUDDINGTON.info alerted villagers to his plight gave Shane’s business a reprieve.
However, by February 2020 his regular trade had dwindled again – prompting the decision that he would need to close his shop by Easter – and so he reluctantly began to wind down his business. But it was then that something extraordinary and unprecedented happened – the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic struck! Even before ‘lockdown’, supermarket shelves were emptied of meat, residents began to shop more locally and Shane ended up with queues of new, eager shoppers outside his door! The landlords granted him an extension on his lease so that he could continue to trade as an ‘essential’ shop beyond his planned closing date of April 11th – and Shane did brisk business right throughout ‘lockdown’ – even opening his shop on days when he would normally be shut in order to meet villagers’ demand. This totally unexpected and most welcome upturn in trade also enabled him to clear some debts along the way.
Five months on, however, his ‘long goodbye’ is finally ending: “As our lease has now expired and our landlords have agreed a lease with new tenants, Ruddington Village Butchers will be closing” reveals Shane. “Our final day of trading will be Saturday 29th August 2020. Many thanks to all those who have traded with us over the years”.
Esther Prentice Nielsen’s words are typical of many customers’ comments wishing him well: “Thanks Shane for providing us with such a great service, and to Stewart before you” she says. “Especially over the last few months you have been amazing. Good luck for the future and we will miss you.” Mary Stone agrees: “Thanks for all the meals and Christmas dinners you have made possible! All the very best for the future. Whatever it holds – have a rest first!”
A well deserved rest is very probably part of Shane’s initial plans! After that, he says there are a few possibilities for him in the pipeline. Meanwhile, he has some good news for Ruddingtonians: “The shop should open again, with a new butchers, about mid September.”
*UPDATE 29th AUGUST 2020
Elms Farm at Costock has confirmed it will be taking over 15, Church Street to bring its own butchers’ shop to Ruddington. The local business has already become well known in our village with its regular stall at Ruddington Village Market.
An Elms Farm spokesperson tells RUDDINGTON.info: “We are coming to Ruddington and are proud to have the opportunity to serve a great community. We are just finalising the lease and have some minor works to carry out on the shop, so watch this space for more details!”
The statement from the popular Costock business, which has been trading for almost seventy years, adds: “We would also like to thank Shane for all his efforts in helping us secure the opportunity. We wish him luck in his new endeavours. He has been a loyal asset to the village and we are sure the decision was not easy. We will be at Ruddington market as normal and, should any one have any questions, we are happy to discuss them along with any suggestions they may have. We look forward to serving you all!”
We’ll bring you news about exactly when our new-look Ruddington butchers’ shop will reopen as soon as we have it.
